Post by: Z_rock01 on May 27, 2015, 07:50:23 AM
What I'm looking for is an area that i can get in pretty far 5-8 miles or so, camp and hunt..?? (back country style..no fire just me, tent and nature) I'm only looking at the SW side of state.
Thank you
Post by: Tbob on May 27, 2015, 08:25:49 AM
I hunted those areas last year, and the gates I saw were mostly hancock Timber and all of them said "NO CAMPING". Oh and it was insanely crowded out there for the archery season ( early and late). Just a heads up :-)
Post by: flcracker on May 27, 2015, 08:32:44 AM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 27, 2015, 09:49:48 AM
Those units are mostly privately owned timber company lands so there will be lots of gates that will be locked and there are also large areas that required an access permit depending on who owns the land. Some companies lock gates but still allow access (hike/bike). I wouldn't call any of those areas a backcountry experience just because there are so many roads/activity going on, but I'm sure you could get away somewhere. There are also large chunks of state land that allows driving with no access permit required. The main thing I would tell you is to know whose land you're on so you know whether or not you need a permit. Hope this helpsIt really all depends on where you plan on hunting or what unit.
681 is all gated, no overnight camping or parking, 673 has a large portion of State land, open roads until you get to Hancock land, gated, no overnight camping or parking.
506 is mostly permit entry, but there is a small portion accessible, if you do your research.
If you are after the "Wilderness" experience you are better off crossing over to Long Island, or hunting the units further north towards the park.
A "Discover Pass" is required for State land, and the areas near Bruceport, the gates along 101, and near Naselle get a lot of pressure due to the high visibility of elk during the summer months, but you can find areas of solitude if you try.
Tunerville Campground has a gate that you could walk back and camp w/o any issues (I think) If you park at the campground and walk in....
I found my best area because there were several vehicles parked at a gate I wanted to hunt, so I drove until I found one that nobody had parked at (yet).
I find a herd of elk back there every year, and only meet a few hunters on the road or at the gate :dunno:
It seems that they will walk in behind a gate a mile or two, then turn around and walk out.
Rarely do they leave the road, or hunt all day.
If you are hunting elk, you might think about bringing a friend, those buggers can be a real pain in the (Uknowhat) 5-6+ miles away from a vehicle.
Post by: Z_rock01 on May 27, 2015, 10:52:18 AM
Post by: willapawapiti on May 27, 2015, 05:17:12 PM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 27, 2015, 06:42:51 PM
I was wondering what gates in the 681 they actually open during modern...
The only gate I have seen open in my scouting has been Dell Creek.
But then I only hunt Archery...
I really don't think it matters though, most of the areas I find elk you have to be in the thick stuff, or see them out in private farmland near town.
just curious how far in the modern guys get to go...
I did see a fire up on the ridge (Bear River) last archery season as I drove down off the hill from Radar Ridge, and wondered if it was workers or hunters.
I meet several power and Nature Conservancy employees while hunting back there (more so than other hunters)
Post by: flcracker on May 27, 2015, 08:39:01 PM
Post by: bobcat on May 27, 2015, 08:50:37 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on May 27, 2015, 09:09:47 PM
This is true to an extent. But most of the road systems run together, opening the very real possibility of hunters coming in from other (sometimes easier) routes than the one you took. Ran into that situation several times in that area.
You can scout out an area, find a some good spots, then come opening day find hunters joining you from 2 or 3 other entry points. Only specific local knowledge and time in the woods really help.
Post by: Tbob on May 28, 2015, 06:28:25 PM
Had that happen a bunch last year. Nobody parked at my scouted gate when I got there. Got to "my spot" at O-dark thirty and low and behold there's 3 dudes sitting right where I was about to get into the thick stuff. Dude said they came in from the other gate down the hwy.. Well damn!
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 28, 2015, 07:12:12 PM
Scouting (in my opinion) is more about learning the land than it is about seeing animals.
Those Elk you see all year long that suddenly disappear come season have been doing it for years.
I have this one saddle that if I get to it (3+miles in) and there are no fresh droppings on trail, I wait.
But if there is already crap there, I got to go all the way back and hit the next gate in an attempt to get ahead of them.
Knowing where they go when pressured is half the battle, anyone can find them in August, but they can go MILES in a very short time.
I use my GPS and mapping software to figure out those shortcuts, or predict where the animals are going to go to escape pressure.
Realize that in September it is all about the cows, and that lead cow has survived several years by having a sanctuary that it heads to at approximately the same time every year.
These little hidden areas are like fishing spots, even if you harvest an animal in the area, another will often be there to take its place.
It is amazing how year after year the same spot can produce.
It is just finding your own "special spot" and then, keeping others from finding it!